DIPHTHERIA - SCI
& TECH
News: Diphtheria outbreak
in Odisha village; govt. orders probe
What's in the news?
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The Odisha government has directed the Health Department and the
Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) to probe the reasons for a suspected
diphtheria outbreak in Manuspadar village in Odisha’s Rayagada district.
Diphtheria:
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Diphtheria is an infectious
disease that is caused by a bacterium
(Corynebacterium diphtheria).
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Diphtheria particularly affects children aged 1 to 5 years.
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Diphtheria is fatal in only 5-10% cases.
Transmission:
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The bacterium primarily infects the throat and upper airways to produce
a toxin that affects other organs.
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The disease is usually spread between people by direct contact or
through the air. It can spread by contaminated objects.
Symptoms:
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Common cold, fever, chills, swollen glands in the neck, sore throat,
bluish skin, etc.
Treatment:
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The vaccine of diphtheria is given in three or four doses, along with tetanus vaccine and pertussis
vaccine. The DTP vaccination is
during childhood.
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The protection against diphtheria can be verified by measuring the
antitoxin level in the blood and if needed, further doses of diphtheria-tetanus
vaccine can be taken every ten years.
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Diphtheria is also treated with the antibiotics erythromycin or
benzylpenicillin.
Mission Indradhanush:
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Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 as a special drive to expand
full immunization coverage in India.
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It aims to cover all those
children who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against
vaccine preventable diseases.
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It provides life-saving vaccines
to all children across the country free of cost to protect them against
Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and
Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella,
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus
vaccine in select states and districts).